Columbia College headed to NAIA finals

Columbia College held off a late charge from Mid-America Nazarene University (Kan.) to win 60-56 Monday evening in the second semifinal game of the 2009 NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

Christian Lewis scored 14 of his game-high 21 points in the second half to lead the Cougars to their first-ever trip to the NAIA national championship game. Brett Hoskins added 14 points as Columbia, now 30-7 on the year, will face Rocky Mountain College (Mont.) Tuesday at 8:50 p.m. CDT for the NAIA Division I crown. The Cougars, who had won just three games in 13 previous NAIA tournament appearances, recorded their fourth win of the 2009 event. Monday’s win also pushed Columbia’s win streak to 10 games.

Tuesday’s national championship contest will feature two unseeded teams playing for the NAIA Division I title. This will be the first time that has occurred since the NAIA tournament seeding procedure began in 1957.